Page 75 of Bourbon Truths
My Present...
“Kace. Kace, are you okay?” Lyla shook my arm, trying to knock me out of my fog, but I couldn’t move.
I was numb, paralyzed, crippled from the sight before me. This couldn’t be real. I was living in a fucking nightmare. God wasn’t this cruel, was he?
“Kace,” Lyla called after me again.
“Mommy, I’m scared,” Madeline said, snapping me out of my stupor.
“Sorry.” I shook my head, trying to clear my disbelief. Gathering my strength, I said, “You reminded me of someone I used to know.” I lied, knowing fully well who was standing right in front of me.
Madeline visibly relaxed and gave me a giant toothless grin. Her two top front teeth were missing, freckles were scattered over her nose and cheeks, and her hair was pulled up in a ponytail, but little wisps of hair stuck to her delicate face, giving her an angelic look.
She was a beautiful child.
Assessing her quickly, I caught a glimpse of a necklace that graced her delicate neck. My heart leapt from realizing she was wearing the necklace I’d recently given her. But it wasn’t just the necklace. She was using the purse I’d given her, as well as a T-shirt that was still large on her. She was using everything I’d given her…all the fucking gifts from years past.
Not only had she received my gifts, but she’d kept them and utilized them.
In an instant I felt weak, like I couldn’t possibly stand on my legs anymore.
“Do you need some water, Mr. Haywood?” Linda asked.
“Yes,” I replied, gathering myself. “Let’s get some and talk.” I turned to Lyla and pressed a chaste kiss on her cheek. “Get out of here, babe. Go live your life.” She didn’t need to get tangled in the sick and fucked up web I was living. Confusion furrowed her brow as I walked away, trying to gather myself for the conversation I was about to have with Linda Duncan.
What could she possibly want? Did she know it was me dropping off the gifts? Had she seen me in the daylight this last time? If I hadn’t been such a drunken mess the night before, her gift would have been properly dropped off like all the other times.
Had she found out I was the one who’d killed her husband? Was she here to air out my past sin? Was she here to turn me in?
Every possible thought I could think of for her being here ran through my brain as I made my way to the water, wondering if this was my final moment before I was sentenced. I grabbed a paper cup from the dispenser next to the cooler and poured myself some water. With a shaky hand, I brought the cup up to my lips.
Taking large gulps, I finished in seconds and then crushed it in my palm, slightly easing some of the tension in my body.
“Sorry about that. The weather changed quickly this year. I wasn’t ready for the heat,” I said, coming up with some kind of excuse for my weird and awkward behavior.
“Not a problem. I know what you mean. I wasn’t ready for such a heat wave right away either, plus the humidity. It can be suffocating at times,” Linda agreed.
“Exactly,” I responded, feeling uncomfortable.
Linda was sweet. She was nice and very easy to talk to, almost too easy to talk to. I didn’t want to get familiar with her because knowing me, I would let go of all my past transgressions in a matter of seconds, thanks to the massive guilt weighing on me.
Last time I’d seen Linda in person was when I’d gone to see Madeline play tee-ball. At the time, Linda had been lankier. She’d seemed okay from afar, but I’d seen the weight of the world on her shoulders. Madeline was as cute as ever but a little more grown up. Linda had gained some weight. She looked healthy now, full and curvy.
I wondered if she had remarried. Had she even dated since she lost Marshall? What was her love life like? Did she even have one, or was she still devastated from what I’d done, from what I’d stolen from her?
“I’m sorry. How rude of me not to introduce myself. I’m Linda, and this is my daughter Madeline,” Linda said.
Linda held out her hand, and I took it in a quick shake and then glanced at Madeline, who was holding her hand out as well, showing off that toothy grin.
Damn, she was adorable.
“Hi, I’m Kace.” I took Madeline’s hand in mine, and she wrinkled her nose and looked at Linda.
“He’s all sweaty, Mom.”
“Madeline!” Linda reprimanded.
“Nah, that’s okay,” I said. “Your hands get sweaty in those boxing gloves. Should have warned you.”
